MOBILE, Ala. - South Alabama (17-3, 8-0) visits Texas State (12-7, 5-3) in a crucial divisional matchup this weekend.

TEAM INFO
- South has leaned on their stout defense all season, ranking at or near the top of the conference in digs/set (1), blocks/set (4), and opponent hitting percentage (1).
- USA's stifling .145 opp hitting percentage is not only top of the conference, but also places seventh nationally. Combined with the team's .249 hitting percentage, it makes for one of the largest hitting percentage margins in the nation.
- Maddie Soboleski and Hannah Maddux make up a powerhouse offensive duo, with Maddux currently fourth in the conference (3.77) in kills/set, and Soboleski sitting at seventh (3.65). Both are also in the top 100 in the nation.
- Maddux is one of the most skilled servers in the entire nation. Her .59 aces/set is currently eighth in the nation and leads the conference by a significant .13 margin.
- Kailey Keeble continues to be one of the country's premier Setters, leading the team assists/set to the top of the Sun Belt and ranking 12th in the country in individual assists/set.
- Niki Capizzi is fourth in the SBC in blocks/set with 1.09. She has 81 total on the season and is just the eighth player in South Alabama history to reach 300 career blocks.
- Capizzi ranks among the most efficient hitters in the conference, tied for third with .344.
- Paige Lynn has been the defensive cornerstone for South, landing fourth in the conference in  digs/set (4.45) and third in total digs (329).

The Bobcats return to San Marcos off a series sweep over Southern Miss. Texas State now sits 5-3 in conference play and third in the Sun Belt West. South shares ULM, Louisiana, and Southern Miss as opponents with Texas State, with the Bobcats going 5-1 between them. Texas State leads the all-time series 12-6, with the first meeting ending in a 3-2 Bobcat win. South went 1-2 against Texas State last season, splitting the home series and losing in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Semifinals. The Jaguars have not played in San Marcos since 2019 and have not won there since 2017.

KJ Johnson and Samantha Wunsch are the offensive leaders for the Bobcats, each winning Offensive Player of the Week this season. Texas State has one of the top Setters in the nation, Ryann Torres, who currently ranks fifth in the conference in assists per set. Junior Libero Alyssa Ortega leads the team defensively with the fifth-highest digs per set in conference play and also leads the team in service aces. 

UP NEXT 
South Alabama returns to Jag Gym to host in-state rival Troy, which could be the deciding series in the West Division standings. Games are scheduled for Oct. 26 and 27, both at 6 p.m.

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